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Dept for Work and Pensions

Answer

Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his latest estimate is of the number of eligible people not claiming pension credit in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland, (d) England and (e) Bridgend; and what plans he has to improve take-up. [224347] Malcolm Wicks: Direct, reliable estimates of the number of eligible people not receiving pension credit are not yet available. The following table shows indicative, broad brush estimates of eligibility levels in 2004-05, where available, and numbers in receipt of pension credit at the end of December 2004. These sets of figures are derived from survey and administrative sources respectively and are not directly comparable. We plan to publish definitive National Statistics on take-up and entitlement for the first six months of pension credit by the end of 2005. The pension service is committed to increasing levels of pension credit take-up. We have already written at least once to every pensioner household in the country to tell them about pension credit and encourage them to apply. We are re-contacting directly, by mail, telephone or personal visit, those people whom we believe are particularly likely to be eligible. New, targeted marketing campaigns seek to overcome the barriers which might prevent take-up of pension credit and the reasons which people give for not applying. The pension service local service continues to work in partnership with local authorities and the voluntary sector, particularly in identifying and contacting older people who are vulnerable or who have yet to take up their entitlement. Eligibility estimates for pension credit 2004-05 and numbers in receipt of pension credit, December 2004 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Wales Scotland England Estimated number of eligible 200,000 300,000 3,050,000 private households, 2004-05 Estimated number of eligible 250,000 400,000 4,000,000 individuals, 2004-05 Private households in receipt of 148,500 259,400 2,082,400 pension credit, 31 December 2004 Individuals in receipt of pension 184,600 313,700 2,561,500 credit, 31 December 2004 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Notes: 1. Eligibility levels for pension credit are estimated using the 2002-03 Family Resources Survey modelled using the Department's Policy Simulation Model. Results are subject to sampling errors and estimation assumptions, so these projections are indicative only until the publication of the National Statistics estimates of income-related benefits. 2. Eligibility estimates by country are based on estimates for Government Office Regions. These do not include those in residential care or nursing homes (RCNH). Eligibility estimates are in thousands, rounded to the nearest 50,000. 3. Numbers in receipt of pension credit are as at the end of December 2004 ascrecorded by General Matching Service data, scaled up to provide month-endcfigures and rounded to the nearest hundred. 4. Numbers in receipt do not include RCNH recipients. Total numbers in receipt at the end of December have been adjusted by estimated numbers of RCNH recipients, based on the November 2004 QSE administration data and rounded to the nearest 100. 5. Some individual recipients may be under 60 years of age, where the claimant is aged 60 or over and the partner aged under 60. 6. Eligibility estimates at constituency level are not available. 7. Figures for Northern Ireland are not available.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

224347; 432 c1385-6W;432 c1381-2W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Eligibility Pension credit Northern Ireland Pensions Scotland Wales Take-up Bridgend

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk